Posts Tagged ‘clearing kitchen sink clogs’
Tips For Unclogging A Sink Drain
Tips For Unclogging A Sink Drain
A general issue faced by homeowners on a regular basis is a clogged sink. However, with the following tips, it will no longer be a Herculean task. First, check the kind of drain that is being used (i.e. – metal J–Trap kind or a PVC kind of tubing). Generally a J–Trap would create a 180 degree bend in the tubing causing a water clog between the sink and the remaining drain system of the house.
Next proceed to detach the drain stopper, which is normally done by lifting it up after turning it right or left to 90 degrees. Also, don’t forget to disconnect the pivot rod beneath the sink below the drain’s tail pipe. Now if the J–Trap is connected with couplings, it can be unscrewed either with your hands or with channel pliers, in case of tight ones, not to forget to put a bucket below the J–Trap to catch the stranded water. Having removed the couplings, now all you got to do is to slither down the J–Trap off the sink’s drain sleeve away from the rest of the house’s drain system.
After having emptied the contents of the J-Trap into the bucket, you can now remove the semi solid and solid culprits that were the reason for the clogged drain. Finally, using a brush or rag, thoroughly scrub the J-Trap. After taking these steps, you will have a free flowing sink drain.
Clearing Kitchen Sink Clogs
Clearing Kitchen Sink Clogs
Nothing takes the life out of an evening at home, like a clogged kitchen sink. The standing water and odor alone will have you desperate to solve the problem. If you have a plunger handy, you may be able to clear the clog quickly.
Your first attempt to unclog your kitchen drain should be to use a plunger. Plungers with a large rubber bell are best as they provide more thrust; however, for a kitchen drain other types will suffice. Before you begin, if you have a garbage disposer, check that it is off. Rotate the disposer blades manually with a screwdriver or other such tool (never use your fingers) to dislodge any objects stuck in the disposal; and if you have a dishwasher, clamp the flexible part of the drain line to prevent dirty water from going into the dishwasher as you plunge. If rotating the blades dislodges a stuck object, you may be finished. However, if you still have standing water, you will need to proceed to plunge the drains of your kitchen sink. Plunge the disposer side of your sink first (most stopped-up kitchen sinks are the result of a clogged garbage disposer). Hopefully this will force the clog down the drain. Press the reset button located on the bottom of your disposer and test the garbage disposal.
If the disposer works and you still have a clogged sink, you will need to plunge the drain without the garbage disposer since this is probably the source of your clog. To accomplish this, fill your kitchen sink with three or four inches of water to make sure the plunger will seal around the drain. Use a wet rag or basket strainer to plug the garbage disposal drain opening and create a vacuum in the pipes. Plunge the open drain by rolling the head of the plunger into the water to force water, not air, into the drain. You can create extra pressure by popping the plunger off the mouth of the drain during upstrokes. If the water doesn’t clear, continue plunging for several minutes. If plunging doesn’t clear the clog, you may have a clog located too far down your drain for you to reach and should consider contacting a qualified licensed plumber to clear the clog.
Tips to Avoid Kitchen Sink Clogs
Most kitchen sink clogs are a result of drain line abuse. You can avoid abusing your kitchen line by not overloading your garbage disposer with meat, high starch foods (pasta, potatoes, rice), or high-fiber foods (corn husks and celery). In addition, be sure to run lots of cold water down your drain while using the garbage disposer. A good practice is to let the disposer catch up after every cupful of food you put into it. Never dump grease, egg shells, onion skins, or coffee grounds in the garbage disposal drain because these tend to solidify in the drain and can cause major pipe obstructions.
Post provided by: Clogged Drain Repair Plumber Marietta GA